Small Business Weekly Podcast – Episode 552 (15:53)
On a recent episode of The Small Business Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Wes Middendorff, AI Architect at Decypher in southeast Michigan, about how small businesses can use artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, automate repetitive tasks and make better use of their data.
For Wes, the value of AI is not about replacing people. Instead, it is about helping businesses streamline time-consuming processes and giving employees better tools to make informed decisions. From handling tedious, repetitive work to supporting data-driven decision-making, AI can create opportunities for businesses to work more efficiently.
But successfully using AI starts with having the right foundation. Before businesses can take advantage of these tools, Wes says they need to understand their data, where it lives and how it can be accessed.
“The key thing to look out for is knowing how to get your data, having it available, and if you don’t necessarily know how to do that, that’s where consultants are really helpful to help you get started,” Wes says. “Once we get the data in a space where it’s usable for projects, generally they go pretty quick from there, so it’s probably the most important thing.”
Rather than viewing AI as something businesses should fear, Wes encourages small business owners to approach it as a tool. Like any technology, its effectiveness depends on the quality of the information behind it and the human judgment guiding how it is used.
For small businesses exploring AI, that can mean starting with practical opportunities where the technology can save time or simplify existing processes, rather than trying to transform the entire business at once.
Listen to The Small Business Weekly Podcast Episode 552 to hear the full conversation with Wes Middendorff and learn more about how small businesses can prepare their data, identify opportunities for AI and use the technology to create greater efficiency and value.
About the Small Business Weekly Podcast
The Small Business Weekly Podcast, presented by the Small Business Association of Michigan, delivers a new interview with an entrepreneurial expert each week – featuring practical advice and success stories designed to support and inspire Michigan’s small business community.
Visit SBAM’s Media Hub for past episodes of the Small Business Weekly Podcast.